Last updated: 30 March 2026

Carer Visa Australia: Subclass 836 and 116

The carer visa exists for a specific situation: an Australian resident has a long-term medical condition that requires ongoing care, no one already in Australia is available or able to provide that care, and a relative overseas is willing and able to come to Australia to provide it. When those conditions are genuinely met, the carer visa provides a permanent migration pathway that family-based visas often cannot.

This guide covers both subclasses — 836 (onshore) and 116 (offshore) — and explains the eligibility requirements, the medical evidence standard, costs, and what the application process involves.

What Is the Carer Visa?

The carer visa is a permanent visa within Australia’s family stream. It allows a relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to migrate to Australia to provide care to that person on an ongoing basis.

Unlike most family visas, the carer visa is not based primarily on the relationship between the applicant and the person in Australia — it is based on the existence of a genuine care need that cannot be met by anyone already in Australia.

The two subclasses differ only in where the applicant is located at the time of lodgement:

• Subclass 836 — the applicant is in Australia at the time of lodgement (onshore)
• Subclass 116 — the applicant is outside Australia at the time of lodgement (offshore)

Both lead to the same permanent visa outcome.

Eligibility Requirements

The carer visa involves two distinct eligibility assessments: one for the care recipient (the person in Australia who needs care) and one for the applicant (the relative who will provide care).

The Care Recipient

The person in Australia who needs care must:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Have a long-term medical condition, illness, or disability
• Require daily care or frequent assistance that cannot be provided by technology, paid services, or any person already in Australia

The condition must be genuinely long-term and genuinely limiting. Short-term or temporary conditions are not eligible. The Department expects specialist medical evidence confirming the ongoing nature of the condition and its impact on the person’s ability to care for themselves.

“Cannot be provided by any person already in Australia” is a key phrase. The Department looks at whether there is another relative in Australia who could provide the care, or whether paid professional care services could adequately meet the need. If an alternative care arrangement exists — even if imperfect or inconvenient — the carer visa may not be granted.

The Applicant (The Carer)

The applicant must be a relative of the care recipient. “Relative” is defined broadly in the Migration Act and includes immediate family, in-laws, and extended family in many cases. The Department assesses the relationship type as part of the application.

The applicant must:

• Be willing and able to provide the care described in the medical evidence
• Meet health requirements (immigration medical examination)
• Meet character requirements (police clearances)
• Have no substantial debt to the Australian government

The applicant does not need to be a qualified health professional. The care being provided is assessed in the context of what is needed — which may be personal care, supervision, physical assistance, or companionship support for someone with a cognitive or mental health condition.

The Sponsor

The person in Australia who is the care recipient (or in some circumstances their partner or family) acts as the sponsor. The sponsor must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be settled in Australia
• Be at least 18 years old
• Meet character requirements

The sponsor is typically the person who needs the care, though a family member who is not the care recipient can sometimes be the sponsor. A migration agent can advise on the sponsorship structure for your specific situation.

Medical Evidence: The Critical Component

The medical evidence requirement is what distinguishes the carer visa from all other family visas. Getting this right is essential — and getting it wrong is the most common reason carer visa applications are delayed or refused.

What is required:

A report from a specialist medical practitioner (not a GP) must:

1. Confirm the diagnosis and the specific medical condition
2. Describe the functional limitations caused by the condition
3. Specify the care tasks required — not in general terms, but in specific detail (e.g., “requires assistance with bathing, dressing, and meal preparation daily; requires supervision at night due to risk of falls”)
4. State the expected duration of the care need (must be long-term)
5. Explain why this care cannot be adequately provided by paid services or technology

The independent care assessment:

In addition to the specialist medical report, the Department may require an independent assessment from an assessor (typically a social worker or occupational therapist) who can confirm:

• The extent of the care need in the home environment
• Whether any alternative care arrangements exist or could be arranged
• Why the visa applicant is the appropriate and only available carer

Some applications require this assessment at lodgement; others receive a request for it from the Department during processing. Providing a proactive independent assessment at lodgement, where appropriate, can reduce delays.

What “no other available carer” means:

The Department looks at whether any person already lawfully in Australia — including other relatives, professional carers, or community care services — could provide adequate care. If the care recipient is eligible for government-funded care packages (such as the Home Care Package under the Aged Care Act), the Department may consider whether those services could meet the need.

This does not mean that the applicant must show there is literally no one and nothing available anywhere. It means they must show that the care need is genuine, substantial, and not adequately addressable by existing options. A detailed, specific specialist report and an independent assessment that engages with this question directly are the most effective tools.

Costs

The carer visa application charge is lower than the partner or parent visa:

Unlike parent visas, the carer visa does not require an Assurance of Support bond. The total out-of-pocket cost is typically in the range of $7,000–$12,000 for a single applicant, depending on the level of professional involvement.

Processing Time

Current approximate processing times for the carer visa (subclass 836 and 116):

The carer visa is not subject to an annual cap in the same way as parent visas. Processing time is primarily a function of caseload and the completeness of the application. Applications with strong, complete medical evidence at lodgement typically move through more smoothly than those that require multiple requests for further information.

Common causes of delay:

• Medical reports that describe a condition without specifying the care tasks required
• Insufficient evidence that no other carer is available in Australia
• Specialist reports from GPs rather than appropriate specialists
• Health examination results requiring specialist follow-up
• Police clearances from multiple countries taking time to arrive

If the subclass 836 is lodged onshore, the applicant is generally granted a bridging visa that allows them to remain in Australia while the application is processed. If lodged offshore (subclass 116), the applicant remains outside Australia until the visa is decided.

After the Visa Is Granted

The carer visa is a permanent visa. Once granted, the holder:

• Can live and work in Australia permanently
• Can access Medicare (subject to reciprocal healthcare agreements where applicable for newly arrived permanent residents)
• Begins accumulating time toward citizenship eligibility (four years lawful residence, including 12 months as a permanent resident)
• May sponsor family members in Australia through other visa categories in due course

The visa does not come with a condition requiring the holder to continue providing care. The visa is granted on the basis of the care need at the time of application — it is not cancelled if the care need changes after grant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for a carer visa in Australia?

The carer visa is available to a relative of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has a long-term medical condition requiring ongoing care. The applicant must be the relative who will provide that care, and must demonstrate that the care need cannot be met by any other person already resident in Australia. The Department assesses both the medical condition of the person needing care and the absence of other available carers.

What medical evidence is needed for the carer visa?

The application requires a medical report from a specialist doctor confirming the nature and severity of the medical condition, the ongoing care required, and why that care must be provided by the relative applicant. A separate report from an independent assessor may be required to confirm that no adequate alternative carer is available in Australia. The medical evidence must be specific — it is not sufficient to state that the person has a condition; the report must explain the specific care tasks required and why they cannot be performed by anyone already in Australia.

How long does the carer visa take to process?

The carer visa (subclass 836 and 116) currently takes approximately one to three years for most applications. Processing time depends on the completeness of the medical and sponsorship evidence, whether an independent care assessment is required, and the Department’s current caseload. Because the carer visa requires specialist medical evidence, incomplete or insufficiently detailed medical reports are a common cause of delay.

Is the Carer Visa Right for Your Situation?

The carer visa is a genuine and sometimes overlooked pathway, but it is appropriate only when the eligibility criteria are genuinely met. It is not a general family visa for relatives who want to come to Australia to help an aging parent — the condition must be long-term and clinically documented, and the absence of an alternative carer must be established.

If you are considering the carer visa:

1. Start with the medical evidence — get an assessment from the relevant specialist before lodging; a strong medical foundation is the core of the application
2. Confirm the relationship — the applicant must be a relative as defined in the Migration Act
3. Assess alternative care options — document why paid services or other relatives are not able to meet the need
4. Consider an independent care assessment proactively — this is often required anyway; obtaining it before lodgement avoids delays
5. Check the sponsor’s eligibility — the care recipient or a family member must be eligible to act as sponsor

For a full overview of family visa options, see the family visa Australia overview. For guidance on what sponsorship involves across family visa categories, see the family sponsorship page.

All family visa pathways — including the carer visa — lead to permanent residency in Australia, the foundation for the long-term future you are planning together.